Saving with 6abc: Save for summer expenses

A new study by the American Institute of CPAs shows that many people's money worries increase as temperatures rise and summer approaches. It's like Christmas in July, but not in a good way.

"We did a survey and we found that almost 60% of adults said that the financial tension in summer matches or exceeds what they feel during the holiday season," explains Kelley Long of the A.I.C.P.A.

Long says now is time to take steps to cut the financial stress of summer, especially if you're hoping to take a vacation. Her first advice, get a realistic idea what your summer plans are likely to cost.

She says, "If you start planning right now, you might have a better idea of what you're going to need to spend. And so, writing down all those expenses to know how much you need to set aside is a good place to start. And, as you're planning your vacation, you want to think about ways to save money and not spend as much money.

Planning to travel? Don't be what she calls a "weekend warrior."

"Plan during the mid-week to do some of your travel," she explains. "Tuesdays and Wednesdays are great days for cheaper airfares, if you travel during the week.

Also, you may find that amusement parks and other attractions are less expensive -- and less crowded -- on weekdays.

Next, always check for coupons for attractions you want to visit.

Her advice, "Look for discount coupons. You can do a Google search, or look for them in your local convenience store, or sometimes, even soda cans will have a discount coupon on them for certain places. Before you book any time of excursion, do a quick search to see if you can find a coupon code."

You can also save by searching for event tickets on sites like Goldstar and restaurant deals on sites like Restaurant.com.

Finally, look for money sources in your home -- hold a yard sale, or sell your clothes on a website like Poshmark.

"Or, take a look at the expenses you might've picked up for in-home entertainment during the winter," Long adds. "It was a long winter and a lot of us were stuck inside. Maybe you can cancel some of those cable subscriptions of Netflix or Hulu."

For more ideas on cutting summer financial stress, click here.